Germany renews film fund

Special effects added to the qualifying categories

The German Ministry of Culture has renewed the DFFF film fund, which will dole out €60 million ($77.6 million) a year in film subsidies from 2103 through 2015.

This time around special effects will count in determining German participation in production subsidy applications, with foreign productions eligible for vfx subsidies if they use local firms whether or not they shoot in the country.

Productions must spend a minimum of $6.5 million on vfx in Germany to apply for the 20% subsidy as of 2013.

With international vfx companies cooperating on such pics as “Cloud Atlas,” the renewal of the German subsidies should significantly boost local firms as they strive to compete.